Automatic marking and canceling machine.



No. 822,898. PATENTBD 511x25, 190a. EJR. MALMBORG.

AUTOMATIC MARKHKG AND GANGBLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH rum) $321.2, 1903.

11 snsma-annm 1 2 mar t! if wimzssesz W7 luurutor,

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. Ell/ 4v Atmunag No. 822,898. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906. E. R. MALEIBGRG.

AUTOMATId MARKING AND OANGBLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED BEI-T. 2, 1903.

11 SHEETS-BREE? 3.

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

y a. a. mmsoae. AUTOMATIG MARKING AND UANGBLING momma.

APELIULTIOI FILED SEPT. 2. 1903,

11 SHBET8SHBET 5 l l -S l l l H U .dn NW 6 Znurntu 1:, flan/ A4).

I I 31; gttmmcg,

No. 822,898. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

E. R. MALMBGRG; AUTOMATIC MARKING AXD GANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE SEPT 2, 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET fl witnesses: ih 7 PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

' E. R. MALMBORG. AUTOMATIC MARKING AND GANGELIEG MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1803 11 SHEETS-SHEET 7 witness-ms:

PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

E. R. MALMBORG. AUTOMATIG MARKING AND GANGBLIRG MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOK FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.

11 SHEETSSHEBT 8 wimzsszs E. R. MALMBORG.

EATENTED JUNE 5. 1906. 7

AUTOMATIC MARKING AKB GANGELEfiG MACHINE. APPLIUATIOK FILED saw. 2, 1903.

witnesses:

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(W W immntm' ll SHEETS SHBBT 9 IIIIIHW In mm PATBNTED JUNE 5, 1906,

E. R. MALMBOflG.

AUTOMATIC MARKING AND GAEQGELING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IH-ED SEPT. 2, R903.

11 SEEBTS-SHBBT ll}w M 3 11mm 6 Q 2 3 2 A; A nmmJM/ PATENTED EUEIE 5, 1%06.

K s. R. mm mu AUTOMATIC MARKXNG AND cmssmm MACHINE,

APPLIGAEZGII FILE SEPT. 2. 1903.

M W iymeutnr wituesszs combination of elments hereinafter more in ng generally shown in show the mechanism immediately below it.-

UNITED sTA rns PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST R. MALMBORG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TIME MARKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPO- RATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC MARKING AND CANOELING MACHINE- Patented June. is, 1906.

Application filed September 2, 1903, Serial No. 171,689.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enivs'r It. Mamrnono, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new "and useful Improvements in Automatic and Canceling Machinea'of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the'accornpanying drawin s, forming a part of this s ification, in w ich corresponding numeralh of reference in the diil'erent figures indicate like parts.

M invention relates more especially to mac ines for marking mail-matter, but may be readily applied to the cancellation of checks and drafts, as well as to use in connection with card systems or wherever it becomes neoessary to mark cards or other momoranda with a date, including the exact hour and minute.

To these ends my invention consists in the ticularl described, and definitely poin out in the c aims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine. 2 is an end view thereof. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation, partly in section, of the main or upper portion of themachine. Fi 5 is a rear elevation of that part of the mac e shown in Fig. 4, a portion of the sup orting'fraine being in section' Fig. 6 is a-plim view with the vertical frame portion and other parts removed to show the relative locgtioiiloif thfi driving-gags, feed as re s, a ct or site sai" gears P d tted lines. f!

is a plan view in detail of a portion of the cod and r tering mechanism, the parts being shown i inll size. Fig. 8 is a like view'show ing the parts in difierent relative positions, one ofthe upper feed-rolls being removed to Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in detail of said registering mechanism as shown jfrorn the rear. Fig. 1O is a like view showingith'e l'fl-r versed tions.- Fig. 11 is a'plan view of the planting-roll, the cap being removed therefrom, while the sli of the time-registering mechanism is sectioned to 5o expose said mechanism.

I2 is a plan view of saidprinting-roller 's owing thocap and the lever for moving th anism to and from a printing position, a por- 9 P g e ision of the cap being broken away to show the print mechanism. Fig. 13 is a vertieai sections view taken upon the line 13, Fig. 13, showingthe time-operatinfg mechanism and a portion of the hollow sha t upon which the printing-roll is mounted. Fig, 14 is a plan view of a portion of the rear end of the machine, showing the stacking mechanism in connection-with'parts of the feed and printing mechanism.

' Referring to the drawings, 1, 1, 2, 4, and 5, represents thelower supportmg-frame of the machine,which consists of a case inclosing a'rheostat and any well-known form of electric motor (not shown) in operative connection with a main vertical drivingshaft 2, Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Above the art 1 is supe osed' a cup-shaped part 3, whic performs as double function of an oil-recs tacle and a support for a main horizontal p ate 4, which supports a longitudinal vertical frame-plate '5. (Shown in the principal figures.) Screwed to the bottom of the piste 4 are depending brackets 6 6, Figs. 4 and 5,

which serve as supports for. two horizontal V lates 7 7, the latter being ada ted to form bearings for a series of vertical s afts having a train of gears mounted thereon, as shown. This construction enables the shafts and gears to run in oil contained within the recep- Upontlie 2 is mounted a "whiclirneshes Into a gear 9 upon a shaft heft i2 Th 11 llu nae 0 car enga'gesa goal-l "u n astud 1,4, wfiich latter gear in turn mes es into sf cal-15 uponja shaft 16. Upon the latter is mounted the main or driving pulley 17, hereinafter referred to. Uplon the shaft-.16 is mounted a pinion 18, w 'chen esaspur-gear 19 u 20. Sai spur-gear engages a a car 21 upon a shaft 22. Upon the upper en ofthe of the several gears are indicated in dotted l Tho'gearl) in'turn engages a gear nashaft latter in the same lane with the feedpulley 17, is mounted a iction-roll 23, havm a face of rubber or other similar material ad apted to form a frictional surface. The 5 main driving-gear 8 upon the shaft 2 also engages a gear 24 upon a shaft 25, which is adapted to run at the same rate of'speed as the shaft 12. Upon the shafts l2 and 25,

respectively, are mounted seconda or supm plemental timing feed-rolls 26 27. beveled pinion 28, Figs. 3 and 6, upon the shaft is arranged to en 'age a like pinion 29 upon a horizontal shaft 30,up on which is mounted a drum 31, which is su plemented by a drum 32 u on a shaft 33, i s. 3 and 4. A wide feedelt 34 is mounte upon the drums 31 32 and is ada ted to serve as a moving platform, upon w 'ch to place the matter to be fed to the machine. The margins of said feed-belts are protected by means of stationary sheet-metal guards 35 36 in. Figs. 3, 4', and 5. The ulley 17 Figs. 3 and 6, is connected with a ike pulley 37, Figs. 3, 4, 5, l5, and. 16, mounted upon a vertical shaft 38, and is driven by means of a belt 39 connecting with the driving-pulley 17. Like pulleys l7 and 37 are located immediately below upon corresponding shafts and are connected by a like belt 39". and 39' are in a vertical lane at right angles to'and above the planeot the web or belt 34.

The foregoing is a eneral description of the gears, ulleys, andielts which constitute 3 5" the main eatures of the feed mechanism and which will be hereinafter more particularly referred toin connection with the automatic controlling devices.

The printing-wheel .40, having there uisite markingcharacters 41, Figs: 1 and 4, uponits eriphery, is mounted upon a vertlcal sha t 42, upon which is secured a gear 43, which meshes into and is driven by the gear 8 of the driving-shaft 2. The gear 43 is 4 5 1n engagement with a gear 44 upon a stud 45,

' the latter gear meshing in turn with a gear 46 upon a stud 47 and that in turn with a ear 48 upon a shaft 49, upon which latter sha is mounted a compressionroller 50, having a frictional material, and adapted at the proper interval of time, as hereinafter explained, to press the article to be marked against the printing-surface. The gears described bear such relations to each other as to cause the peripheral speed of the wheels and 50 to be the same.

, For the urpose of inking the printing-surface the f dllowing" described mechanism is provided: The gear 43 upon the rintingwheel shaft is arra ed to mesh with a gear 51 upon'a stud 52. is in turn drives a gear 53 upon a shaft 54, upon which is mounted a -.roller 55, adjacent to an ink-well 56, in which is located a disk 57, F 6, arranged to con tact with the face of t The inner face of the belts 39 surface of rubber or other analogous 1e roller 55, the-rotasaaeee t ion of the part 57 serving to lift the ink into contact with and to distribute it u on said disk. An ink-roller'58, faced with t e usual absorbent material, is interposed between the roller 53 and the rinting-roll 40 and in operative contact wit both. The ink-feeding disk 57 is driven'by means of a shaft 59, upon which it is mounted, which shaft extends through the wall of the ink-well and is provided with a wormsgear 60 upon its outer end. The latter is in engagement with a worm 61 upon a shaft 61", which latter is provided with a y the car 21.

The orcgoing completes the description of the printing mechanism, with the except1on of the means for controlling the compressionroller 50 to prevent it from becoming inked, and also the time-printing and stackin mechanism, vs hich will be hereinafter described.

The letters or other articles to be marked are fed between the rolls 17 and 23, Figs. 3,

pinion arranged to be driven 7, and 8, and after having been acted upon by automatic retarding or synchronizing mechanism, hereinafter described, are passed between the rolls 26 27, where they serve to bring into action certain registering mechan ism, likewise the subject of future descri tion, when they are passed between t e printing and coin ression rolls and thence to the stacking mec anism. The prima fea. ture of' the latter consists, preferab y, of sprocket-chains 62 62, mounted upon sprocket-wheels 63 64, the former of. winch constitute the driving-wheehand is keyed to a shaft 65, having a gear 66 thereon in mesh with a gear 67 upon a stud 68. The latter gear is in turn driven by'means of a gear 44.

further descri tion of the stacking mechanism will be de erred to follow a detailed description of the automatic synchronizing and registering devices connected with the feed mechanism-and the special timing feature arranged to coact with the printing-d1e.

Mounted upon a stud 69, Fig. 3, are idle rollers 70 adapted to serve as a bearing for the middle portion of the feed-belts 39 39 (Shown also in Fig. 5.) Pivoted upon said stud by-means of ears 7], one of which is shown in Fig. 3, are deflectinglates 72, Figs. 3 and 5. The forward on plates lie inside of the plane of the belts, as shown, and are connected, by means of a coiled spring 73,.t0 a stationary point Wl'lllO- the free ends project between said belts and extend beyond the periphery of the beltpulle 17, where the are normally but 'yieldmgly held into 0 ose proxunit tofingers 74 u on a synchroniz ng whee (generally desigrihted as 75 and shown in full size in of said.

Figs. 7 and 8.) Said synchronizing wheel is ivoted upon a stud 76, dependin from a;

ridge-plate 77, rigidly attached to t e fra'mea One face of each of the four teeth of sa d wheel isdisposed tangentially to a circle con ceases with and for an instant to be retarded in its movement by such contact with the hub of said wheel. The wheel is held normally in the position shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8 by means of an arm 78, having friction-rollers 79 80 thereon, said arm being pivoted at 81 to a lug S2. A coiled spring 83 serves to press said rollers against the teeth of the wheel with a yielding pressure. The wheel 75 is provided with a lantern-pinion having four teeth, {indicated in dotted lines in F'igs.

7 and 8,) which teeth are adapted to be engaged by a pawi S4, pivotally attached at 85 to the end of an arm 86,p1voted to a stud 87 at a stationary point on the frame. spring 88 serves to hold the pawl 84, which is notched or bifurcated at its free end, into contact with the teeth of said lantern-pinion. A link 89 serves to connect the arm 86 with one end of a bent lever 90, which is pivoted to the frame 91, said lever being held in a normal position by means of a coiied spring 92. (Indicated in dotted lines.) Upon the free end of said lever is a friction-roller 93, which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 94, mounted upon a shaft 95. Sand shaft is driven by means of a car 96 thereon, Fig. 6, which gear is in turn riven by means of the gear 9. With each revolution of the shaft 95 the lever is vibrated, thereby communicating its motion through the link 89, arm 86, and pawl 84 to the lanternpinion of the wheel 7 5, which serves to impart a stepby-step revoluble motion tosaid wheel from right to left in unison with the rotation of the printing -,die.' This causes the tooth of said wheel which points toward the guard 72 to move a uarter of a revolution and to lie just within t e ma :1 5f the peripheryjpj the roller 27. In making this movem ht e letter or card, which is described as having rested against said hub, is pimhed laterally by the next succeeding tooth against the p ate 72, which causes the latter to yield, thus enabling said letter to be introduced between the rollers 26 27. Inasmuch as the rotation of the synchronizing wheel 75 is accomplished as a result of. the rotation of the shaft 95, which is in positive connection through a train of gears with the -1 V I ointed at or near its lower end, and the upshaft, it follows that the letter or other artic to be marked can onl be brought into con tact with the feed-r01 s 26 27 at a stated terval of time, which bears a fixed relationto the position of the printing-die upon the roller 40, thereby causing the impression ulpon the.article to be marked to be made in t e proper place.

In feeding to the machine thematter to be marked the retarding-roller 23 performs an im ortant function. Said roller being rovi ed with a friction-surface, as state is driven in an opposite direction from that of the feed-roll 17 at a lesser rate of speed and is mounted in yieldin bearings formed by means of a yoke 97 (in 'cated in dotted lines in Fi 3, 4, 7, and 8) upon the end of an arm 98, w ich is connected at 99 to one end of an adjustable lever 100, pivoted upon a stationary stud 101. An adjusting-screw 102, swiveled in a stationary bearing and connected with the opposite end of said lever, enables said yoke to be'accurately adjusted. A light compression-spring 103 serves to press the shaft uplon which said roller is mounted against t e inner end of the yoke and to hold said yoke with a sli ht 1yielding pressure in close proximity to t e elts 39 and 39, so as to insure the passage of but one letter or other article at a time.

I wiii now explain the mechanism for registering the pieces to be marked as they are U on the shaft 12 and supplementaryjo the ee'd-roll 26 referred to is mounted a secoDdaryfeed-roll I 04, Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive of corresponding diameter. Pivoted at 105, Fig. 8, upon the upper face of theroll 104 is a leverarm 106, the free end of which is bent to conform substantially to the curve of the periphcry of said roll, as shown at 107. (See also Figs. 9 and 10.) Pivotally connected at 108 'to said lever-arm is a secondary lever-arm 1.09, which is in like manner connectedat 1 10 tothe free end of a link 111 the opposite end of whichis'pivotall attached at 112 to the faeeof said feed-r0 l. A lug 113 upon the lever-arm 109 is connected, by means of a coiled spring 114, to a pin 115 upon said roll. From the pivotal point the lever-arm 109 is bent, as shown at 116, and is of such a is h that when in a normal position, in which it is held by the spring 114, its outer end is within or substantially flush with the periphery of the roll. The action of the spring s such as to cause the part 107 to norznaiiy ject beyond the periphery of the feed-re gae clearly shown 111 ig. 7, for the purpose hereinafter stated. The shaft I2 is per end is free to yield laterally, so as to allow theieed-rolls '26 and 104 to move away from the corresponding rolls upon the shaft 25,

IIO

thereby ermitting the passe between the opposite i eed-rolls of articles 0 varying thicknormally hold-saidsleeve against the collar.

ness. This is accomplished by the following means: A'yoke 117, the fork OfjUIllCll is innicated in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8, has its fork resting against the shaft-bearing, while its op osite-end is pivoted at 118 to the free end 0 an arm 119, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the frame by means of a-stud, as indicated in dotted lines at 120. A coiled spring 121 serves to connect said arm with a stationary oint on the frame, therebyserving, throug the action of-said yoke, to press said feed-rolls together with a yielding pressure. Supported upon the pivot 118 isa short lever 122, the free end 123 of which is in immediate proximity to the periphery of the roll 104' and in the same horizontal plane with the end 116 of the lever 109. .The opposite end of the lever 122 is v pivoted at 123 to a slide-bar 124, Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, which is supported in asuitable bearing and is provided upon its opposite end with acam 125. U- on the shaft 95 is mounted asleeve 126, igs. 9 and 10, which is splined to said shaft, so as to rotate therewith, but free to be moved vertically. Acollar 127, rigidl .-attached tosaid shaft, serves as a rest an support therefor. A cam 128, formed upon said sleeve, is connected, by means of a coiled s ring 128*, with a pin upon said collar, the ob ect of said-spring being to A secondary cam 129 is formed upon the sleeve 126 and is adapted when the cam 125 is in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to engage the latterrand ride u wardly thereon, so as to on age with the teet ofa star-wheel 130 upon t e upper end of a shaft 131. Said -star-wheel is maintained in a normal position 'by means of. a roller 132 upon the free end of 49' a spring 133,-Figs. 7 and 8, which spring is :attached to the frame. The shaft 131 is provided with--a pinion 134 u on its lower end, (shown in dotted lines in ig. 3,)wvhich pinion meshesinto a gear 135 upon a shaft 136. This in turn engages a gear 137 uponashaft 138, having a beveled gear 139 upon its upper end arranged to drive a like gear 140 upon a horizontal shaft 141, connected with and arranged to "actuate any well-known form of registering mechanism 142. The operation of saidregistering mechanism in cOn unction with that of the feed mechanism is as follows: Asstated, the part 107 of the lever 106 normally projects outwardly beyond the peripheral line of the rolls 26 and 104. .The result is that when a letter 143, Fig. 8, reaches the feed-rolls the part 107 is pressed back therebyagainst the action of the spring 114, which.

action causes the part 116 of the lever 109 to protrude sufficiently, as shown in Fig. 8, to engage the end of the lever 122 :andmove it to an extreme position, thereby actuating the slide 124 and moving. the cam 125 into. position to engage the cam 129, which latter is lifted thereby as the shaft 95 is rotated, thus 1 was bringing said cam momentarily into the same plane wlth the star-wheel 130, which wheel is operated by said camand moved .a dlstance 0 one notch, when the cam 129 rides off from the cam 125 and the sleeve 126 is drawn down by the spring 129 to its normal position upon the collar 127. tlnues its rotation the cam 128 is brought into contact with the end of the slide-bar 124, as shown in Figs. 7 and -10, thereby moving it back to its normal position ready to be again moved into osition to engage the cam 129 whenever a letter passes between the feedrolls. The cam 94, which, as heretofore stated, controls the action of the synchronizing wheel 75, is so timed as to release the letter from said synchronizing wheel into contact with the feed-rolls 26 27 when the part 107 is in substantially the position shown in Fig. 7, so that it will be actuated thereby.

Iavin described the registerin mechanism, I wi lnow proceed to explain t 10 devices for controlling the action of the compressionroll in conjunction with the printing-die.

A long horizontally-arranged flat spring 144, Figs. 3, 7, and 8, is adjustably attached to a frame-piece 145,'Fig. 3, by means of a clamping-nut 146- U on the free end of said spring is attached a yo e-like frame 147, connectedwith the shaft 49, upon which the compression-roller 50 is mounted. Said roller is faced with rubber or other suitable material, as shown, and is adapted to be pressed by the spring 144 against the face of the print.

should be normally held away from said printing-wheel and that it should only be reed during the passage between it and the printing-wheel of the article to be marked, so that in practice it shall never be brought into contact with any ortion of said wheel, but only with said artic e. Attached to the frame 147, b means of a screw 149, is a curved arm 150,w ich is fitted to rest normally against a cam 151 upon the shaft 95, said cam having a shoulder 152. When the cam is rotated to a position to permit the part 150 to ride off from the shoulder, the compression-wheel is free to be pressed against'tho face of the tinting-wheel, provided it is not prevented rom so doing by the action of intervening mechanism. It is necessary, however, that such release should not occur with each revolution of the cam 151, but only, as stated, during the passage of ,a letter. For this reason the release of the compressiomwheel is controlled bythe'action of the star-wheel 130. Pivotally mounted between two parallel plates 153 153, Figs. 7 and 8, is a sleeve hav- .1ng an arm 154 beneath and to a fitting upon the end of which is mounted a friction-roller 155 in position to be engaged by the teeth of As the shaft 95 conceases 7 said star-wheel. A secondary arm 156,

which is integral with or ri 'dly attached to said sleeve, is provided wit a shoulder adapted to serve ncrmall as a rest for a bent arm 158, which is rigid y attached to the wheel-frame 147. A coiled spring 159 tends to move the arm 156 toward the part 158, a 7

lug 160 serving to limit said movement. As a result of a partial rotation of the star-wheel through the action of the cam 129 the shoal-- der 157 is withdrawn from against the part 158, and the cam 151 being timed with reference .to this action the art 156 rides oil from the shoulder 152 of t e cam 151, when the roller 50 acts to compress the article to be marked against the printin -die. As soon as the com ression is com eted the compression-rol er is withdrawn y the action of the cam 151, and when moved back to its normal position the art 157 is moved beneath the part 158, t ereby withholding the compression-roller until it is again antomat ically released as a result of the passage of a letter.

The shaft of the printing-wheel and the shaft 95 run at the same rate of speed, and the cam 151 is so timed as to permit the cornpression-roll to act only dnrin such time as 7 is necessary for the printing-die to pass it;

The distance between the secondary feedrollers and the corn ression-roller is such as to provide for the s ortest letter, while the circumference of the printing-wheel is equal to the hen th of the longest. It follows, therefore, t lat but one registration can occur and but one impression can be made and that in the proper place, whether the letters be long or short, provided they are within the limits of ordinary usage.

The printing mechanism contained within the rioting-wheel is provided with certain features, which I will now proceed to describe. 7

The printing-wheel (designated generally by 40) consists of a hollow cylindrical casing 161, Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 42. An opening is formed in the side of the casing, as shown at 162, Fig. 11, within which is inserted an oblong metal case 163, arranged to contain tune-printing wheels, designated generally by 164, said wheels bearin the usual dating characters, and being, wit their immediate actuating mechanism, in all respects like the well-known time-printing wheels, except that they are arranged severally with their axes at right angles to that of the rioting-wheel 40, and the face or periphery 0 each wheel is rounded to conform to the curve of an arc of the periphery of said wheel in which the? are contained. An important advantage 0 this construction is that any obstruction occurring to the passage of a letter would not tend to displace the wheels by rotation upon their axes, so as to cause the wrong numbers or characters to be resented, as is the case where the axes o the time-printing wheels are parallel to that of said main printingwheel. As will be observed by reference to Figsfll and 12, this construction causes the relative diameter of the various time-printing Wheels to vary.

Asheft 165, Figs. 11 and 13, hasa yoke 166 mounted thereon, which is pivoted upon the shaft 167, upon which latter is mounted the usual series of gears and ratchet-wheels, as shown, for controlling the time-printing wheels. Said yoke is connected b means of a link 169, pivoted lever 170, 1'0 171, (see also Fig. 4,) lever 172, and rod 173 with the train of a clock 174. With each movement of the rod in the hollow shaft '42 awls 168 upon said yoke serve to actuate t e wheels and thereby to move the time-printingwheels. No claim is made herein for the mechanism employed. for operating said time-printing wheels, that having been shown and described in my Letters Patent No. 615,031. The case 163, which serves as a frame for said time printing wheels and their connectin mechan- 1SII1, is made to move in a straight line within the cylindrical case 161 to and from the axis of the latter. This movement is to enable the printing-wheels to be withdrawn when desired and is accomplished in the following manner: Upon the to plate T75 of said (rise is placed a )in 176, w iich projects upwardly through a s ot 177 of the top plate or cap of the main printing-wheel. ever 178, pivoted at l '79 upon said cap, is provided with a cam-shaped slot 180, Fig. 12, through which the pin 176 is projected. Indentations 381 182, formed in the top of said cap, are iiltml to receive a slot-pin 183, attached to a flat spring 184 upon the top of said lever, said spring being old in place by the ivot-screw 179. The pin 183, which is ronn ed upon its lower end, projects through a bore in the end of said lever and serves to maintain said lever in one or the other of the two extremepositions shown in Fig. 12. The sem -shaped slot 180 serves when the lever is moved to push the pin 176, and thereby the case 163, into and out of a printing" position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12. r

After theletter or other article to be merited is printed it is passed to the stacking meshamsm. {Shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and

14.) Said stacking mechanism consists of e friction wheel 63, mounted upon a shaft hereinbefore referred to and likewise shown in Fig. 6, which acts in conjunction with a sprocket chain or belt 62, as may be preferred, mounted upon sprockebwheels 185 N16, Fig. 14, the former of which is keyed to the shaft 65, While the latter is looselymounted upon a stud 187. Intervening sprocketwheels 188 189, mounted upon like studs, serve to keep said chain in alinement without undue tension; Fenders 190, attached to said chain, serve to nab each letter laterally as it reaches the end of its travel, thereby opening a path for the next succeeding letter. A compression-roller 191 is mounted upon an end of a swinging arm 192, ivoted to the frame at 193, and is controlle by means of a spring 194, which serves to press the roller 191 against the roller 63 to insure the assage of the letters to the stacking mec anism. A frame is provided for the reception of the ar-- ticles to be marked, which consists of a series of inclined rods 195, having their upper ends rigidly attached to the frame of the machine and a stop-bar 196, arranged above and arallel with the last of said frame-rods. aid rod-frame is made in two sections hinged to gather at 197, Fig. 2, the rod 198 and bar 199, which form extensions, respectively, of the bars 195 and bar 196, being arranged to fold beneath said last-named bars, as shown in Fig. 2, where they are sup )orted by means of a catch 200. A brace-r0 201', projecting horizontally from the frame of the machine to the lower end of the bars 195, serves to support said bars. A traveling follower is provided for supporting and movin with the articles to be marked as the col ection is increased. This consists of a horizontal bar 202, located beneath the bars 195 and rovided with slots 203 therein, through wl iich are inserted screws 204, which are tap ed into cross-bars 205 205, having u war lyprojecting grooved rollers 206, whicl-l engage and roll upon the sides of two of the rods 1 95, as shown. The screws 204 are so adjusted as to cause the rollers to press a ainst and to slightly bend the rods towar each other, thereby causin a slight but yielding frictional resistance to t e movement of the carriage, the extent of which may be varied as desired by the extent of the compression. Afollowerplate 207 is hinged at 208 to a bearing upon the end of an upwardly-bent arm 209, the plane of said follower-plate bein at right angles to that of said bars 195. in operating said stacking device the follower-carriage is pushed upwardly to its full limit, and as the articles marked accumulate they press against the plate 207 and move it against the frictional action of the carria e. If more room is needed than is aflorde by the bars 195, the extension may be swung outwardly and locked into place; but it has been found in practice that the followerlate is only needed for a limited distance, an hence upon reaching the end of the rods 195 the plate is turned upon the hinge 208 and allowed to hang down out of the way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with feeding-rolls and a revoluble printing-die, of a revoluble serrated synchronizing wheel located in the path of movement of the feed rolls, and means timed to conform to the rotation of the printing-wheel for actuating said synchronizing wheel whereby the article to be marked may be timed to contact with the feed-rolls at a predetermined period of their rotation.

2. The combination with a revoluble printing-die and feed mechanism of a toothed synchronizing wheel the teeth located in the path of movement of the article to be marked, said wheel being rotated step by step in harmony with the rotation of the printing-die and means for deflecting the article to be marked against one of the teeth of said synchronizing wheel.

3. The combination with a revoluble printing-die and feed mechanism, of a s nchronizing wheel located in the path 0 movement of the article to be marked, means for actuating said wheel step by step in harmony with the movement of the printing-die, said wheel bein provided with a series of teeth, one face 0 each of which is tangential to a circle drawn from the center of said wheel, while the other coincides with a line radiating from said center, whereby said wheel may serve alternately to retard the article to be marked and then to move it into alinement with the feeding mechanism.

4. The combination with a primary or ini tial feeding mechanism adapted to permit the assage of but one article at a time to be mar ed, of a revoluble printing-die, a secondary pair of feed-rolls arranged to rotate in a fixed relation thereto, a synchronizing wheel located between said primary and secondary feed-rolls, said wheel having teeth arranged to extend successively into the plane of the meeting faces of said feedrolls to engage and control the movement of the articles to be marked, and means for actuating said synchronizing wheel step by step in harmony with the rotation of said printmg die.

ondary feed mechanism, of a revoluble printing-die arranged to rotate harmony with said secondary feed mechanism, a synchronlz- "ing wheel located between said primar and secondary feed mechamsm, said whee larving teeth arranged to extend successive] into the direct path of movement of the articles to be marked, to en age and control the movement of said artic es respectively and means for actuating said synchronizin wheel one step with each rotation of sai printin -die.

' 6. T e combination with primary and secondary feed mechanism, of a revoluble printsaid secondary feed mechanism, a synchronizing wheel located between said (prima and secondary feed mechanism, sa' whee having teeth arranged to extend successively 5. The combination with primary and secof which are ing-die arranged to rotate in harmony with l into the direct path of the articles to be marked to engage and control the movement of said articles respectively, means for actuating said synchronizing wheel one step with each rotation of said printingdie, and a spring-controlled deflecting-plate for deflecting said articles into contact with said synchronizing wheel.

7. The combination with a continuouslyrevoluble printing-die of two sets of coacting feed mechanism, one to initiate the movement of the articles to be marked, while the other is placed between it and the printingdie, the latter being timed to bear a fixed relation in its movement to the rotationof the printing-die, and an intervening synchronizing mechanism, also timed to conform to the rotation of said printing-die, for ositively controlling and timin the intro notion of the articles to be mar ed to the secondary feed mechanism. 1

8. The combination with a revoluble printing-dic-and two sets of feed-rolls, of a posh tivcly-actuated synchronizing device immediately preceding the second set of feed-rolls with a slight space between it and the nieeting faces of said rolls, and means for causing the movement of said synchronizing device and said second set of feed-rolls to be timed to act in harmony with the rotation of said printing-die 9. The combination with a revoluhie printing-die and two sets of feed-rolls, of a toothed synchronizing wheel interposed between the first and second sets of feed-rolls, means for actuating said wheel one step with each rotation of the printing-die and means for automatically locking said Wheel in a normal position.

10. The combination with a revoluble printingdie, of revoluole feed-rolls bearing a fixed relation thereto, a star-wheel in op orative connection with a registering mechanism, a cam arranged to rotate at the same speed with said printing-die, said cam being in proximity to, but normally out of engage rnent with said star-wheel and means actuated by the passage of an article to be marked, for moving said cam into engagement with said star-wheel.

' l1. ihe combination with a revoluhle printing-die, of a registering mechanism, a star-wheel normally at rest for actuating the same, a junta osed cam normally out of contact with sai star-wheel, said cam being arranged to rotate at like speed with said printing-die, feed mechanism, and means operatcd hythe passage of an article to be marked for bringing said cam into operative engagement with said star-wheel.

12. The combination with a revoluble printing-die, of a spring-actuated compression-roll in 'uxtaposition thereto, a revoluthe release 0 ble cam timed with said printing-die, for acting upon said compression-roll, a spring-controlled catch for normally locking said compression-roll away from said printing-die, a star-wheel for withdrawing said catch and means operated by the passage of an article to be marked for moving said star-wheelone step with the passage of each article.

13. The combination with a revoluble printing-die, of a compression-roll, means for pressing the same a alnst said die, means for consecntivel with rawing and permitting revolution of said printingdie, supplemental means for normally locking said compressionroll away from said print-in -die, mechanism actuated by the passage 0 an article to be marked for releasing said locking means, primary and auxiliary feed-rolls, means for rotating the latter in harmony with the rotation of the printing-die, and a synchronizing mechanism timed to act in harmony with the revolution of said printingdie for synchronously and positively controlling the introduction of the article to be marked to the auxiliary feed-rolls,

14. The combination with a revoluble printingdie, of a juxtaposed compressionroll, means for normally locking. the same swag from said die, feed-rolls, releasing mec anism controlled by the passage of an article to be marked, and a synchronizing mechanism fortiming the introduction of the articles of varying length to said feed-rolls, said synchronizing mechanism being positively timed to act synchronously with the rotation of said printing-die to release the mail-piece by its own independent action.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rovoluble cylindrical case of a sliding case fitted to move therein to and from the periphery thereof, time-printing wheels mounted in said sliding case, a pivoted .ecoentrically-slotted lever upon said cylindrical case, means for connecting said eccentrio slot with said sliding case and a springcontrolled locking mechanism for locking said lever in one or another extreme position.

16. In a stacking mechanism, the combination with follower-supporting rods of a fol lower, a carriage therefor mounted upon said rods, means for producing friction to control said compression-roiiwith each the movement of said carriage, said follower 7 being mounted upon said carriage by means of an arm hinged at one end, whereby said follower may he folded laterally and downwardly out of the wav when not in use.

17. The combination in a stacking mechanism of follower-supporting rods, a follower, a carriage therefor, said carriage having grooved wheeis for engaging opposite sides of two arallel rods, and means for adjusting said w eels to press against said rods from opposite directions, whereby-a yielding pressure and a corresponding frictional action may be imparted to said wheels to resist the movement of the carria e to-conform to the requirements of thestac ing mechanism.

18. In a stacking mechanism, the combination of laterally-extended rods for receiving and supporting the articles marked, said rods being made 1n sections hinged to each .esz ses other, one section of which is adapted to fold 1o beneath the other when notin use.

In testimony whereof I have signed this vspecification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of Au st, 1903.

ERNST R. MALL ORG. Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, CARRIE E. JoRDAN'. 

